Northern Resources Segment. Revenues increased by $2 million, or 1%, to $159 million in 2005. This increase was due primarily to higher sawlog prices ($11 million), offset in part by lower harvest volume ($9 million). Sawlog prices increased by 9% due primarily to a higher demand for logs as a result of increased lumber production, and a limited supply of logs. The decrease in harvest volume was due primarily to the timing of harvesting activity. During the first six months of 2005, we purchased a greater percentage of sawlogs for our Montana mills from external log suppliers, and therefore lowered the harvest levels from our timberlands, as compared to the same period in 2004. For all of 2005, harvest levels in the Northern Resources Segment are expected to increase by approximately 3% over the 5.2 million tons we harvested during 2004.
Northern Resources Segment operating income was 31% of its revenues for both 2005 and 2004. Segment costs and expenses increased by $1 million, or 1%, to $110 million. This increase was due primarily to higher log and haul costs per ton ($6 million) offset in part by lower harvest volume ($5 million). Log and haul costs on a per ton basis increased by 8% due primarily to higher fuel costs. Southern Resources Segment.Revenues increased by $46 million, or 21%, to $266 million in 2005. This increase was due primarily to a higher harvest volume ($21 million), a higher percentage of delivered log sales compared to sales of standing timber ($16 million), and higher softwood sawlog prices ($5 million). Harvest volume increased due primarily to favorable harvesting conditions and a planned increase in harvest levels. Harvesting conditions throughout most of the first six months of 2005 were favorable, compared to extremely wet weather conditions during 2004. For all of 2005, we expect the harvest volume to increase by 5% over the 13.3 million tons we harvested during 2004 as a result of the increased percentage of maturing timber on our southern timberlands. Revenues increased by $16 million due to the company’s increased percentage of delivered log sales. The company increased its percentage of delivered log sales by decreasing its percentage of sales of standing timber. Under its delivered log sale agreements, the company is responsible for log and haul costs. When standing timber is sold, the buyer incurs the log and haul costs. The company sells logs on a delivered basis when, in management’s judgement, log merchandising efforts will yield a premium over selling stumpage. While revenues are higher when the company is responsible for the logging and hauling of timber, a large portion of that increase in revenue is to cover the related increase in cost of sales. As a result, on delivered log sales the company realizes lower operating income as a percentage of revenue, even though operating income is generally improved. Softwood sawlog prices increased temporarily during the first quarter of 2005 due primarily to a weather-related shortage of logs. Several of our customers had low log inventories at the end of 2004 due to wet weather during the second half of 2004 and, as a result, offered higher prices in order to rebuild log decks. Southern Resources Segment operating income was 48% of its revenues for 2005, and 46% for 2004. Southern Resources Segment costs and expenses increased by $20 million, or 17%, to $139 million in 2005. This increase was due primarily to an increase in log and haul costs as a result of a higher percentage of delivered log sales compared to sales of standing timber, higher harvest volume and an increase in the per ton rate for log and haul cost. The per ton rate increase for log and haul costs, which increased costs and expenses by $3 million, was due primarily to higher fuel costs. Real Estate Segment.Revenues decreased by $134 million to $104 million in 2005. During the six months ended June 30, 2004, approximately 255,000 acres of large, non-strategic timberlands were sold for $133 million. Excluding revenues from these large, non-strategic timberland sales, revenues were comparable. However, during the first six months of 2005 we sold approximately 54,000 acres with an average sales price of $1,732 per acre, compared to approximately 80,000 acres with an average sales price of $1,306 per acre for the same period in the prior year. Furthermore, we recognized $8 million from the sale of conservation easements during 2005 while there were no revenues from conservation easements during 2004. During the six months ended June 30, 2005, small non-strategic and conservation timberland sales accounted for approximately 80% of the acres sold and higher and better use timberlands sales represented approximately 20% of the acres sold. Excluding large, non-strategic timberland sales, small non-strategic and conservation timberland sales accounted for approximately 87% of the acres sold during the six months ended June 30, 2004, and higher and better use timberland sales represented 13% of the acres sold.
The timing of real estate sales is a function of many factors, including the availability of government and not-for-profit funding, the general state of the economy, the plans of adjacent landowners, the company’s expectation of future price appreciation, and the timing of harvesting activities. We expect higher and better use timberland and small non-strategic timberland sales for the remainder of the year to range between $130 million and $150 million. Real Estate Segment sales could be higher depending on the extent of large, non-strategic timberlands sold during the remainder of the year. Real Estate Segment operating income was 62% of its revenues for 2005, compared to 48% for 2004. This increase was due primarily to selling a greater percentage of higher value timberlands during 2005 compared to 2004, an impairment loss of $19 million during 2004 and the sale of large, non-strategic timberlands during 2004. Real Estate Segment costs and expenses decreased by $84 million to $40 million. This decrease of $84 million was due primarily to the sale of large, non-strategic timberlands for which we recognized costs and expenses of $49 million, an impairment loss of $19 million recorded during the first six months of 2004 and selling fewer acres of higher and better use timberland and small, non-strategic timberland during 2005. Manufactured Products Segment.Revenues increased by $1 million to $257 million in 2005. This increase was due primarily to higher MDF prices ($7 million), offset in part by lower plywood prices ($5 million). MDF prices increased by 14% due primarily to improved demand and a richer product mix. MDF demand has increased due to strong housing starts and improved repair and remodel markets. During the first half of 2004, we resolved all of our start-up issues associated with our new MDF thin-board line and, as a result, have increased the percentage of higher-margin products we produce. Plywood prices decreased by 7% due primarily to the increased production of structural panels (plywood and oriented strand board). U.S. structural panel production during the first six months of 2005 was 3% higher than production during the first six months of 2004 due primarily to the start-up of new mills and capacity expansions. Manufactured Products Segment operating income was 7% of its revenues for 2005 and 13% for 2004. This decrease was due primarily to higher log and raw material costs. Manufactured Products Segment costs and expenses increased by $18 million, or 8%, to $240 million in 2005. This increase was due primarily to higher log costs for our lumber and plywood mills, higher costs for purchased wood for our remanufacturing facilities, and higher resin costs. Log costs have increased due primarily to a declining supply of logs in Montana and favorable lumber and plywood prices. Other Costs and Eliminations / Gain on Sale of Other Assets. Other Costs and Eliminations (which consists of corporate overhead and intercompany profit elimination) decreased operating income by $25 million in 2005, compared to a decrease of $23 million in 2004. During the second quarter of 2004, we sold our working interest in our coalbed methane gas joint operating agreement to Geomet, Inc. for $27 million and recorded a gain of $5 million. Provision for Income Taxes.The provision for income taxes for the first six months of 2005 was $11 million, compared to $17 million for the first six months of 2004. Plum Creek has elected to be taxed as a REIT under sections 856-860 of the United States Internal Revenue Code and, as such, is generally not subject to corporate-level income tax. However, during the first six months of 2005 we accrued $4 million of corporate (built-in gains) income tax associated with the sale of timberlands. (See Note 4 of the Notes to Financial Statements of Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc.) Furthermore, the company conducts certain non-REIT activities through various taxable REIT subsidiaries, which are subject to corporate-level income tax. These activities include our manufacturing operations, the harvesting and selling of logs, and the development and/or sale of some of our higher and better use timberlands. During the first six months of 2005 we accrued $7 million of income taxes associated with these non-REIT activities, compared to accruing $17 million during the first six months of 2004. This decrease of $10 million was due primarily to the $17 million decline in the operating performance for the Manufactured Products Segment and the $5 million gain we recognized during the second quarter of 2004 from the sale of our coalbed methane gas working interest. Gain on Sale of Properties, net of tax.During the first quarter of 2005, we sold our remaining coal reserves for total proceeds of $22 million. The net gain from this sale, after reducing the proceeds for costs of sales and applicable income taxes, was $20 million, which has been reported in our income statement as a separate line item below Income from Continuing Operations.
Financial Condition and Liquidity Net cash provided by operating activities during the six months ended June 30, 2005, totaled $228 million, compared to $391 million for the same period in 2004. The decrease of $163 million was due primarily to a $134 million decrease in revenues from timberland sales and an increase in working capital. Timberland sales during the six months ended June 30, 2004, included $133 million in revenues from sales of large, non-strategic timberlands. Working capital increased by $24 million during the six months ended June 30, 2005, compared to a decrease of $10 million during the six months ended June 30, 2004. This difference of $34 million is due primarily to an increase in the like-kind exchange funds held in escrow. (See Note 4 of the Notes to Financial Statements of Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc.) In August of 2004, the company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a shelf registration statement under which the company from time to time may offer and sell any combination of preferred stock, common stock, depositary shares, warrants and guarantees up to a total amount of $400 million, and under which Plum Creek Timberlands, L.P., the company’s wholly owned operating partnership, may from time to time offer and sell debt securities of up to an additional total amount of $400 million. As of June 30, 2005, the entire amounts for issuance of equity and debt securities remained available under the shelf registration statement. The company has a $650 million facility revolving line of credit maturing on January 15, 2009. As of June 30, 2005, the interest rate for the line of credit was LIBOR plus 0.875%, which included facility fees. This rate can range from LIBOR plus 0.75% to LIBOR plus 1.625% depending on our financial results. Subject to customary covenants, the line of credit allows for borrowings from time to time up to $650 million, including up to $50 million of standby letters of credit. Borrowings on the line of credit fluctuate daily based on cash needs. As of June 30, 2005, we had $495 million of borrowings and $6 million of standby letters of credit outstanding; $149 million remained available for borrowing under our line of credit. On July 1, 2005, $376 million of the borrowings under our line of credit was repaid. In April 2005, the company retired its $20 million variable rate senior note bearing interest at 3-months LIBOR plus 1.445% due in 2008 prior to its maturity using funds available under the company’s revolving line of credit. Furthermore, in June 2005, the company made principal payments totaling $27 million on borrowings due under the company’s 1989 senior and first mortgage notes bearing interest at 11.125%. In May 2005, the company entered into a $50 million one-year term loan agreement to finance the acquisition of approximately 35,000 acres of Florida timberlands. As of June 30, 2005, the interest rate for the term loan was LIBOR plus 0.5%. This rate can range from LIBOR plus 0.4% to LIBOR plus 1.075% depending on our financial results. The company’s borrowing agreements contain various restrictive covenants, including limitations on harvest levels, sales of assets, the incurrence of indebtedness and making restricted payments (such as payments of cash dividends or stock repurchases). The borrowing agreements limit our ability to make restricted payments based on available cash, which is generally our net income (excluding gains on the sale of capital assets) after adjusting for non-cash charges (such as depreciation and depletion), changes in various reserves, less capital expenditures and principal payments on indebtedness that are not financed. Additionally, the amount of available cash may be increased by the amount of proceeds from the sale of higher and better use properties and, under certain circumstances, by 50% of the amount of net proceeds from the sale of other assets. Furthermore, our line of credit requires that we maintain certain interest coverage and maximum leverage ratios. The company was in compliance with such covenants at June 30, 2005. The company’s financial policy is to maintain a balance sheet that provides the financial flexibility to pursue our strategic objectives. In order to maintain this financial flexibility, the company’s objective is to maintain its investment grade credit rating. This is reflected in our moderate use of debt, good access to credit markets and no material covenant restrictions in our debt agreements that would prevent us from prudently using debt capital.
Cash required to meet our financial needs will be significant. We believe, however, that cash on hand and cash flows from continuing operations will be sufficient to fund planned capital expenditures, and interest and principal payments on our indebtedness for the next year. In 2006 and 2007, the company has significant long-term debt principal payment requirements. Also, the company has $50 million in short-term debt that matures in 2006. The company intends to refinance these principal payments at the time of maturity. The company, however, may not refinance the entire amount and may use cash generated from operations for a portion of the principal payments. On August 2, 2005, our Board of Directors authorized the company to make a dividend payment of $0.38 per share, or approximately $70 million, which will be paid on August 31, 2005, to stockholders of record on August 17, 2005. Future dividends will be determined by our Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, based on consideration of a number of factors including, but not limited to, our results of operations, cash flow and capital requirements, economic conditions, tax considerations, debt covenant restrictions that may impose limitations on the company’s ability to make cash payments, borrowing capacity, changes in the prices of and demand for Plum Creek’s products, and changes in our ability to sell timberlands at attractive prices. Other factors that our Board of Directors considers include the appropriate timing of timber harvests, acquisition and divestiture opportunities, stock repurchases, debt repayment and other means by which the company could deliver value to its stockholders. The company has authorization from our Board of Directors to repurchase up to $200 million of the company’s common stock. As of June 30, 2005, the company had repurchased approximately 2 million shares of common stock for a total cost of $43 million at an average price of $21.53 per share. Capital expenditures, excluding the acquisition of timberlands, for the six months ended June 30, 2005, were $28 million, compared to $32 million for the same period in 2004. Planned capital expenditures, excluding timberland acquisitions, for 2005 are expected to range between $90 million and $100 million, of which approximately 60% are considered discretionary and approximately 40% are considered maintenance expenditures. Discretionary expenditures consist primarily of silviculture investments (e.g., fertilizers and herbicides) associated with our timberlands and to a lesser extent land development investments. Maintenance expenditures consist primarily of reforestation costs for our timberlands and projects at our manufacturing facilities to sustain operating activities or improve safety. On March 28, 2005, Plum Creek signed a definitive agreement to purchase approximately 56,000 acres of timberlands in Florida subject to completion of due diligence. The transaction is valued at approximately $90 million and is expected to close in several phases. The first phase of approximately $50 million closed during the second quarter of 2005 with the remaining phases closing over the next 18 months. Risk Factors Applicable to the Business of Plum Creek Business and Operating Risks The Cyclical Nature of Our Business Could Adversely Affect Our Results of Operations Our results of operations are affected by the cyclical nature of the forest products industry. Historical prices for logs and manufactured wood products have been volatile, and we, like other participants in the forest products industry, have limited direct influence over the time and extent of price changes for logs and wood products. The demand for logs and wood products is affected primarily by the level of new residential construction activity and, to a lesser extent, repair and remodeling activity and other industrial uses. The demand for logs is also affected by the demand for wood chips in the pulp and paper markets. These activities are, in turn, subject to fluctuations due to, among other factors:
|